NFL notebook
Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith was carted to the locker room with a right shoulder injury last night, the latest blow to another key player in an injury-filled start to Panthers training camp in Spartanburg, S.C.
X-rays were negative, but general manager Marty Hurney was uncertain how long the four-time Pro Bowl receiver will be out. Smith was injured when he got tangled with cornerback Chris Gamble early in the evening workout, held without pads.
Smith crumpled to the turf and grabbed his right arm after a slight collision with Gamble in a passing drill. He took off his helmet and kicked it before walking to a nearby tent, favoring his right shoulder. Smith was briefly treated before being carted inside, where he underwent X-rays.
Rams’ top WR injured
The Rams could be without their top wide receiver, Donnie Avery, for the first two games of the regular season after weekend tests showed he has a stress fracture in his left foot. The team said Avery was hurt during a scrimmage last Friday and he is expected to be out 4-6 weeks . . . The Eagles’ injury-plagued training camp claimed two more players during practice - backup quarterback Kevin Kolb sprained a ligament in his left knee and former Pro Bowl defensive end Trent Cole sprained his left shoulder. Both players will miss Thursday’s preseason opener against the Patriots . . . Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will sideline him for the remainder of training camp. Bryant will undergo arthroscopic surgery, and coach Raheem Morris expects Bryant to be ready for the regular-season opener against Dallas . . . The Lions will play this season without defensive end Jared DeVries, who left the practice field on a cart with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.Brees returns to Saints
Drew Brees returned to Saints training camp after leaving the team over the weekend in the wake of the death of his mother, Mina Brees, in Colorado. Brees said he expects to play in the Saints’ preseason opener Friday night, but also believes he will be excused from camp again next week to attend a memorial service. No cause of death was reported . . . The Saints placed tight end Dan Campbell on injured reserve after the 11-year veteran had missed the last week of practice because of a nagging right knee injury . . . After agreeing to a five-year contract Sunday night, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins competed in his first practice for the Saints following a 10-day holdout.White gets back to work
Roddy White was at Falcons practice after ending an eight-day holdout. The star wide receiver agreed to a six-year, $50 million deal ($18.6 million guaranteed) over the weekend. “I’ve just got to go out there and do what I’ve been doing the last two years,’’ said White. Receiver Marty Booker also made his first appearance after signing last week . . . The Bengals cut veteran running back Kenny Watson, who played in 10 games for Cincinnati last season . . . Thin up front because of injuries, the Steelers signed center Alex Stepanovich, who played for Atlanta last season.
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